Brynlee Claire's 3rd Birthday

Like I said in the previous post, I started Saturday off with lots of family.  Landon and Brandi had a 'family birthday brunch' for Brynlee that morning and we enjoyed food and fun while BC opened presents.  (She was so cute!!  About 20 minutes after I got there, Brynlee quietly asked me to come into the dining room with her...she was trying to be sneaky.  We walked in and she said, "Kia, let's count ALL my presents."  I thought it was adorable.)  She's just getting to the age where presents are really exciting and Aunt Kia will let her get away with anything so of course we counted all the presents :))

Lindsay came to celebrate!!

Mamaw and Ms. Pat

Aunt Patti was there too!!

Mimi and Emma Grace

It's not a party without Aunt Bee!!

Some friendly competition...OU vs. OSU

So excited to blow out the candles

Emma enjoying her bkfst - that's a mesquito bite on her sweet little face :(

Really blurry, but love this!

Mimi and BC reading

Papaw and Mamaw Garner

This is the quilt mom made for BC that goes with a pop-up book.  It's amazing!!

Dr. Brynlee

Busting out the hula hoops

Mimi giving it a go ;)

Aunt Patti showing us how the RHS drill team use to do it :)

The morning was perfect! That afternoon, we girls left to do a little more crafting, enjoyed some TCBY and then went to the BIG BIRTHDAY PARTY @ Little Gym around 5:00.  I loved watching all the sweet kiddos run around and play.  It was a BIG DAY!!

Love this munchkin!!

Sweet GK

Hudson was right there with the big kids

At one point, we couldn't locate Emma...she was on Grammy's phone :)

Mommy and BC

Mom loving on Hudson

That night we went back to Landon and Brandi's and had pizza.  I got to give the girls a bath and put Brynlee in her big girl bed.  We read two books and sang some songs right before I walked out of her room.  She is so funny, she was doing anything to make me stay in there.  I gave her 9 hugs before leaving.  (One was a bear hug, a lion hug, a tiger hug, a dog hug, etc. - she just kept coming up with different animals.  We'd growl, bark, whatever the noise the animal made, that's the noise we'd make while hugging.)  She's so funny and a smart little cookie who knows her Aunt Kia can't help but give into that ornery little smile and those big blue eyes!  It's safe to say, she and Emma have me wrapped around ALL their fingers!!

Sunday morning, I got up early and drove back to Little Rock.  Since Matt had to work the entire weekend, I was REALLY wanting to get back and spend the day with him.  We enjoyed lunch at P.F. Changs, had a great nap, bought groceries and got in bed early to watch a movie.  It was perfect!! 

This week has been busy, but I am so excited because our pop meeting in NWA got cancelled for today and tomorrow.  I'm working from home today and looking forward to lunch with my sister and a cozy night in with Matt. 

Hope you're all having a great week!!

Friends that are Good for the Soul

This was an amazing weekend!!  I left Thursday around 4:00 to head to NWA.  I met my family and the Honea's at Cheezy's for dinner (I love my sweet nieces!!!  Nothing makes me smile more than walking into a room and seeing them start running to me :))  After dinner, I went over to Amanda's house.  She and I waited impatiently for Kim to arrive.  The three of us spent the night talking, laughing, and just being ourselves.  We actually didn't go to bed until almost 3AM - it truly felt like a night in Kendall dorm.   

This is what I saw when I drove up to Amanda's house...

Love it!!!

 

Saturday morning we ran through Einstein bagels, made a trip to Altar'd State and Signed, Sealed, Delivered, and then ran by John Q. Hammons for a tiny bit of crafting before heading to the airport to pick up our other college roomie, Lauren.  WOW!!! It was so good to be with all three of these girls!  We spent the afternoon crafting and enjoyed a late lunch @ Marketplace in Springdale.  Then, we went to 'Oops' so we could all stock up on Christmas ribbon.  Before heading to lunch, we stopped by "She Said Yes" to see Emily (Amanda's sister) try on a couple of wedding dresses. 

I know this is blurry, but it captures us in our element...always laughing!!

 

Lauren reliving her moment as a bride :)

 

All the gals - it was great to see Amanda's mom and sister

We LOVE some Marketplace

 

Lauren met her biggest crush, Michelle Duggar.  It was so cute how excited she was.  We had to get a picture!! :)

Outside of Oops

It was a FULL day and I wouldn't change a thing!!   That evening we curled up at Amanda's and just sat around visiting.  Amanda's mom found an old VHS tape that we made in college that has the most random things on it and it was HYSTERICAL to watch.  (SHOUT OUT TO KIM FOR STILL HAVING A VHS PLAYER AND BRINGING IT!!)  I loved reliving those moments with these three!!
Amanda was AWESOME and made a trip to Rick's Bakery to stock up on lots of goodies too.  We devoured them!!

These are the blue cookies in honor of Lauren being pregnant with her 3rd precious baby boy!!

Yummy!

We LOVE some chocolate!!

 I know we all have good friends in our lives that are special to us but these three girls hold a place in my heart that will never be filled by anyone else.  There is something so refreshing about being with friends who lift you up, not only spiritually, but mentally and emotionally.  I love that they are amazing mothers who have a love for God and their families.  I look forward to having the three of them to lean on when I, one day too, become a mother.  Just like I said in the title of this post, they are good for my soul.  Love you girls with all of my heart!!!  I can't wait until our next little get-together!! 

 

I got up early Saturday morning and said good-bye to these beautiful ladies and spent all day Saturday with my fabulous family, while celebrating Miss Brynlee Claire's birthday!!  Check out all the pictures from the big day tomorrow!!